Looking back on my internship in Vietnam, I feel incredibly grateful for the experience. Moving abroad for five months was both exciting and challenging, but it has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life so far. Teaching in Vietnamese public schools gave me the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone, grow in confidence and experience a completely different culture firsthand. TEFL Ireland were such a supportive part of the journey from the very beginning, and knowing I had guidance and support throughout made the whole experience much less daunting.

One of the biggest surprises from moving abroad has been the friendships and connections I made along the way. I met people from all over the world through the internship, and I also became close with local Vietnamese teachers and students. Those friendships made Vietnam feel like home very quickly. TEFL Ireland also created a great sense of community among interns, which helped a lot during the adjustment period.

If I could relive one day from my internship, it would probably be my final day teaching at schools. It was emotional saying goodbye to my students, but hearing them share what they had learned and how much they enjoyed my classes made me realise the positive impact I had during my time there. It was a very proud and memorable moment.

Living abroad has definitely changed my perspective on travel, work and life. I have become much more adaptable, independent and open-minded. I learned that some of the best experiences happen when you take risks and embrace uncertainty. Vietnam taught me to slow down, appreciate cultural differences and enjoy experiences rather than always focusing on plans.

Teaching abroad has absolutely influenced my future plans. Before this experience, I never imagined myself living overseas, but now I can definitely see myself continuing to travel and potentially teaching abroad again in the future. The experience gave me confidence in my ability to adapt to new environments and showed me how rewarding cultural exchange can be.

After Vietnam, I plan to take everything I have learned from this experience into the next stage of my career. Whether I continue teaching or move into another field, I know the confidence, independence and international experience I gained here will stay with me. I am also hoping to continue travelling and exploring new cultures whenever possible.

Three things I think every future Vietnam intern should know before arriving are:

1. Pack light, breathable clothes because the weather can be very hot and humid.
2. Learn a few basic Vietnamese phrases because locals really appreciate the effort and it makes daily life easier.
3. Be open-minded and flexible because things may not always go exactly to plan, but that is often when the best memories are made.